Friday, September 17, 2004
Eagles collar Bulldogs
Franklin County turns back three Martinsville drives in its territory in the final two quarters.
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The Franklin County defensive back was ready for a rare Thursday night game as he intercepted two passes to help the Eagles hold off Martinsville for a 20-6 nondistrict victory at Cy Dillon Stadium. Forecasts for heavy weekend rain associated with Hurricane Ivan moved many Timesland games up 24 hours, and Drakeford had his alarm set.
"We made it a Friday night," the senior said.
Franklin County coach Billy Miles couldn't figure out why the scoreboard clock wasn't moving faster. The Eagles (2-1) scored 20 quick points in the first half but had to turn away three Martinsville drives in their territory in the final two quarters.
The Bulldogs ran 37 plays from scrimmage to just 16 for Franklin County in the second half.
"It might have been the slowest clock I've ever seen in a long time in a football game," Miles said.
Martinsville (1-1) jarred the hosts by going 64 yards in three plays on the game's opening possession for a 6-0 lead as quarterback Quan Beamer hit 6-foot-5 tight end Jervis Wimbush for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
"Nobody's going to be as big as Franklin County in the Piedmont District, so I think we're going to be all right," Beamer said.
The Eagles used their offensive line - anchored by 330-pound tackles Chris Renick and John Turner - to pound Martinsville in the first half.
Throwing just one pass on each of its first three possessions, Franklin County answered the Bulldogs' opening score with a 1-yard TD run by halfback Ronnie Edwards, a 2-yard blast by fullback Shane Cooper and a 3-yard run by Edwards, who finished with 178 yards on 23 carries.
Martinsville had a chance to score before halftime after Edwards fumbled at the 16-yard line, but the Bulldogs lost precious time because they had to burn all three of their timeouts by the 10:48 mark of the second quarter.
"We had a bunch of substitution problems," Martinsville coach Taylor Edwards said. "A couple times we had 12 men on the field, then we didn't have enough on the field. I've got to take the blame for that."
Drakeford stopped a drive at the Franklin County 42 with a third-quarter interception and ended the Bulldogs' hopes with a pickoff at the Eagles 7 with 7:05 to play.
Drakeford has four interceptions in three games.
"Xavier Drakeford is probably the most underrated player on this team," Miles said. "I would put him among a handful of those I've been associated with since I've been a coach. Xavier is a player. He doesn't have great speed, but I do think he is athletic. He is a flat-out player."
The Bulldogs were without starting fullback A.J. Williamson and center Grant Martin, but they still managed to pile up nine first downs and 135 yards rushing in the second half.
"My backs were getting on me telling me we should run more, but we had to get scores," Edwards said. "I don't know. They might have been right."
Martinsville 6 0 0 0 - 6
Franklin County 7 13 0 0 - 20
M- Wimbush 29 pass from Beamer (kick blocked)
FC- Edwards 1 run (Kelley kick)
FC- Cooper 2 run (kick failed)
FC- Edwards 3 run (Kelley kick)
M FC
First downs 14 17
Yards rushing 175 251
Passes C-A-I 4-17-3 1-4-0
Yards passing 77 6
Penalties-yards 10-106 4-45
Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-2
Punts-average 2-46 2-30
Individual statistics
RUSHING - Martinsville, Henderson 7-55, Beamer 16-54, Ray 10-52, Gamble 5-18, Shelton 1-0, V. Hairston 2-(minus-6). Franklin County, Edwards 23-178, Cooper 15-75, Kent 1-6, Willis 10-minus-10.
PASSING - Martinsville, Beamer 4-17-3 77, Franklin County, Willis 1-4-0 6.
RECEIVING - Martinsville, Reid 2-43, Wimbush 1-29, Henderson 1-5. Franklin County, Drakeford 1-6.
